Tag Archives: Matthew West

Like Santa Claus, Music City can always be counted on to deliver a new sackful of gifts — musical ones, that is — each and every holiday season. 2011’s batch is particularly generous, as local artists from all corners of the musical map have new Christmas albums for fans to set their season to, and a number of country stars have recorded special Christmas singles. Here’s a look at just a few of the highlights, from bluegrass to big bands, hard rock and country.

Today, we have "One Last Christmas" from contemporary Christian singer-songwriter Matthew West. This isn't lighthearted holiday fare: West uses the song to share the story of 2-year-old Dax Locke, who died after struggling with leukemia in 2009. The young boy's story inspired people in his home town of Washington, Ill. and elsewhere to decorate early for his favorite holiday.

"The doctors told his parents that most likely, he wouldn't make it to see Christmas," West says as an introduction to the video. "This song is inspired by the true story of how a family, and a whole town, rallied together to make sure that this little boy could have one last Christmas."

West is donating "One Last Christmas" video sale proceeds (from www.matthewwest.com) and a portion of his artist and writer royalties to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital -- the hospital that cared for Dax -- with the aim of raising $1.6 million dollars, the cost of running St. Jude's for one day. West will also be heading up a benefit concert in Dax's hometown on Thursday, Dec. 30. The event, held at Five Points Washington (360 N. Wilmor Rd., Washington, Ill.), begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 ($20 gold circle seating), and more information is available at www.fivepointswashington.org.

Contemporary Christian mainstay Michael W. Smith is set to release his latest album, 12-track set Wonder, on September 28.

The new collection ponders a mix of emotions and topics, from love and commitment to the focus on faith for which he's long been known.

Wonder's leadoff single, "Save Me From Myself," hit radio in June. (Listen to the singer talk about "Save Me From Myself" via YouTube.) He teamed up with a crew of well-known writers on the album, including former Delirious? member Stu G, Tommy Sims, Matt Maher, Matthew West and others.

Smith has a long run of dates planned, including shows that make up the "Make a Difference Tour" alongside fellow Christian market heavy-hitters tobyMac and Third Day. (That jaunt isn't scheduled to come to Nashville, and his official site doesn't list any other upcoming Nashville dates, but Smith did perform at home in June at the all-star Nashville Rising flood benefit concert. Read more about Nashville Rising.)

Loews Vanderbilt Hotel hosted the annual Nashville gathering of Grammy nominees and their compatriots on Thursday night, and a mix of genre-spanning stars -- from country singers Dierks Bentley and Trace Adkins to contemporary Christian mainstays Jars of Clay and pop voice Colbie Caillat -- hit the party. Click below to see some shots from the shindig.

Click to see a gallery of photos from Thursday night's Grammy nominee party in Nashville (this photo of Dierks Bentley: Jeanne Reasonover/The Tennessean).